Safety hook



9, l949 B. D. ELLIOTT 2,478,184'

SAFETY HooK Filed Oct. 22, 1947 J0 7 71N VENTOR.

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ATTU RN EYE Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES eATJENT OFFICE SAFETY HOOK Bert l). Elliott, Everett, Wash.; Betty Elliott execntrix of said Bert D. Elliott, deceased 1 Claim.

This invention relates to hooks, and more particularly, has reference to a safety hook designed for use with a cable in towing vehicles.

By way of background, it is pointed out that commonly, a tow cable will be looped around the portion of the vehicle to be engaged, and held against disengagement by means of the ordinary grab hook or the like. It is well known, in this connection, that where this arrangement is employed, slackening of the cable during the towing operation, which almost invariably occurs at some point therein, results, too often, in the cable becoming disengaged from the hook. Not only is this occurrence a clear inconvenience, and timeconsuming as to the necessity of again attaching the cable properly, but also, the disconnecting of the towing from the towed vehicle can even be dangerous under many circumstances.

It is an important object of the invention, then, to provide a hook of novel formation which is so designed as to prevent any possibility of the cable becoming disengaged therefrom, even should there be considerable slackening of the cable during the towing operation.

It is a further important object to so form the hook as to meet the above stated object, and yet permit the cable to be threaded therethrough with speed and ease.

Another important object is to provide a hook of the type stated that is capable of manufacture at low cost, is extremely strong and durable, and may be made of comparatively light material, considering the tasks to which it may be applied, by reason of its being specially formed to permit almost all strain to be assumed by the cable with which it is used.

Briefly stated, the invention embodies the novel formation of a hook that is of coiled conguration intermediate its ends, the coils being especially formed to receive a length of tow cable, this being commonly relatively stiff and not of full flexibility, and to permit the cable to center itself during towing operations. The hook is further formed with end portions or prongs so shaped as to prevent any disengagement of the cable from the hook.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, reference is had to the attached drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a preferred form of hook constructed in accordance with the invention, a tow cable being threaded therethrough and secured to a part of a towed vehicle; y

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the hook;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View, taken from the right of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, in which the hook as illustrated in FigureV 2 has been inverted to show its other side;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view, taken from the left of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 2; and

Figure 'l is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the hook is conveniently formed from a single length of bar material bent to shape. To form the hook, the material is bent intermediate its ends to provide a spiral bend having a plurality of coils or convolution 5. More than one suchY convolution can be provided if desired, but I have found that in the instant hook, one sufces fully for the purposes thereof, and provides as well a more compact and less costly hook.

By reference to Figure 1, it is seen that the convolution 5 is of such inner diameter as to permit the cable C, preferably of considerably smaller diameter, to be easily threaded therethrough. Thus, when in use, the cable is permitted a considerable amount of play, and is enabled to center itself during the towing operation, thus lessening frictional engagement of the cable by the hook.

At one end of the convolution 5, the length of material is splrally bent as at 6 to :provide a partial continuation of the convolution 5, as if, for example, to begin formation of a second convolution. However, the material is then rearwardly extended to provide a return bend 1, that is further extended to define a curved front prong 8, terminating substantially directly above, and in spaced relation to, the convolution 5. It is seen, then, that the prong 8 overlying convolution 5 constitutes a means for preventing the cable C from slipping therefrom, since any tendency of the cable to slip, by lateral movement in any direction, from said convolution causes the cable to come into engagement with some portion of the prong 8, which curves partially around the cable as it extends forwardly from the convolution, and then is directed rearwardly a substantial distance to overlie the convolution.

Rearwardly of the convolution 5, the length of material used in forming the hook is first spirally bent as at 9 in a partial extension of the spiral formation of the convolution. However, the material is then extended substantially straight to the rear as at Ill and then given a return bend in the same :plane so as to define an eye II. The eye is closed by the material being then forwardly extended in crossed relation to its rearwardly directed part I0, and the crossed portions Welded at I2. The material is then curved in a partial convolution I3, so as to curve around the cable, after which the material is extended laterally under, and in spaced relation from, lthe eye Il, terminating in a relatively elongated rear prong I4 This rear prong, as will be seen, prevents the cable C from slipping out of engagement by the hook at the rear end thereof. Any tendency of that part of the cable extending rearwardly from the hook to become disengaged 'by late-ral movement only results in the movement ofthe cable being halted by the curved portion I3 extending partially therearound, or by the prong I4.

The cable C has one end looped through the eye I'I ofthe hook, and is. secured against detachment from the eye by a clamp I5 or the like. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the cable, after being passed around thebumper Bor other member of the vehicle to be towed, may be placed inoperative engagement with the hook by being threaded therethrough, either from the front or rear end of the hook.

Ordinarily, in use, the -cable will be drawn taut, and in such instances, it is permitted a relatively large amount of lateral play within the hook, thereby permitting it to center itself to a considerable extent and substantially preventing excessive frict'ional engagement between cable and hook. However, should slack occur, the'ipcrtions ofthecable extending'to front and rear of thehook, will not, even if the cable goes completely slack, become disengaged from the hook, because the prongs 8 and M are so curved and located as to meet andengage the cable and held it against further movement tending toward disengagement from the hook.

It should be noted that the hook illustrated is especially designed for use with cables, as distinguished from ropes. The use of cables in towing, desirable because of their strength and wearing qualities, presents problems in the formation of a hook to be used therewith, by reason of the cables relative lack of flexibility, as compared to a rope. A hook for a cable, therefore, should be so formed vas to permit the stiff cable to be easily threaded therethrough, and it is seen that it is readily possible with my hook.

I claim:

In a cable fastener, the combination which comprises a continuous rod formed to provide a spiral with spaced coils with the leading end extended outwardly and curved rearwardly from the rst coil and with the tip tapered to provide a hooklike overlapping end, and with the end of the last coil at the trailing end of the spiral extended in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the spiral and in the same plane as that of one side of the coils, said end at the trailing end forming an eye positioned out of the path of a cable extended through the coils, and said end of the trailing end of the spiral being extended from the eye to form another coil and from this coil the end is extended outwardly and rearwardly providing a guide leading a cable into the coils of the fastener.

BERT D. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 750,782 Ramsey Jan. 26, 1904 1,780,184 Gleason Nov. 4, 1930 1,888,875 Long et al Nov. 22, 1932 1,964,631 Hansen June 26, 1934 2,289,710 Kelso July 14. 1942 

